Shooter Video Games

Activision's take on modern military engagement returns as handheld gamers once again head to the front line of a battle against terrorists and rogue regimes in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 -- Defiance. As a member of the U.S. Special Forces or the British SAS, players fight their way through a 14-mission campaign, making use of the most advanced military technology available and earning a front-row seat to the franchise's signature theatrical grandeur. Defiance also lets multiplayer fans take the war online, with co-op or competitive wireless action for up to six combatants. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Star Wars: Battlefront -- Elite Squadron is a third-person shooter that allows players to take part in famous battles from throughout the Star Wars story. As in previous Battlefront games on consoles and home computers, players take the role of a soldier from the sci-fi fantasy series and engage in frontline combat with infantry weapons, light artillery, and vehicles. In Elite Squadron, players can customize their character by choosing weapons, armor, gender, and combat attributes, and by earning and using their choice of hundreds of unlockable weapons, items, and bonuses. In addition to the custom character they develop, in some modes, gamers can also play as central characters from the Star Wars saga, including Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Kit Fisto, Count Dooku, and Boba Fett, as well as some main characters originally featured in earlier Star Wars games. Players may commandeer equipment and vehicles in the heat of combat, including AT-RTs and troop transports, as well as TIE and X-Wing fighters. Following the Battlefront design, the main campaign is composed of decisive battles from the six Star Wars feature films, including the firefights on Endor, Yavin 4, and the icy planet Hoth. Nintendo DS and DSi gamers can also connect wirelessly, for multiplayer matches with up to four human-controlled soldiers. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

An enhanced update to Taito's 1988 arcade game, New Zealand Story: Revolution has players guiding a yellow, sneaker-clad kiwi named Tiki on an adventure to save his feathered friends from an evil leopard seal. The side-scrolling action takes place on the top screen and consists of five themed stages. A map of the surrounding area is displayed on the lower screen, with various interactive sequences controlled with the stylus.

Standard controls allow Tiki to peck at the ground, jump, double jump, dash, and fly for a short time to reach new areas. Upgradeable weapons are also acquired throughout the journey, from swords and shields to bows and arrows. It's even possible to hijack vehicles like UFOs and balloons to help Tiki get past certain obstacles. In addition to the single-player game, up to four players can compete against each other via wireless connection. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide